Sarah Rockwell EDC 430 October 11, 2011 Article Review
Science for Life Science for Life is a journal that deals with Science in Secondary Education. The article is written in an interview style. Questions were asked by Principal Leadership and are answered by Francis Elbere. The questions that were asked pertain to issues within secondary education environment focusing in particular, on science. It was asked of Elbere to identify key components of an exceptional science program to which he replied: a qualified teacher, a well articulated science program that transitions middle school students into high school, and adequate instructional materials. The Principal leadership also asked Elbere to infer from recent NECAP test scores why some students were falling short. His reply to this was that most schools do not supply students with an adequate science background to transition them into high school science. This leaves them highly unprepared for the science testing that is conducted in the secondary level. Elbere also argues that many schools only provide science programs that were built around the models of their top performing students. This creates a disadvantage for other students who’s strengths may lie in more practical applications of science such as agricultural sciences or health sciences. By creating programs in such practical science courses, all students will obtain a fair opportunity to develop scientific thinking skills that are required for the NECAP science tests. I strongly agree with much of Francis Elbere’s opinions on science education in secondary schools. By creating more science courses within secondary schools, you provide students with more options that they can choose from. These options will allow most students to take science courses that they want to take rather than courses that they are forced to take and otherwise, are uninterested in. Elbere’s opinions about the key components of an exceptional science program closely align with my own opinions about what science programs should have. A highly qualified teacher is important to any subject area. A teacher must be able to answer students’ questions and have enough insight to know when to allow students to make inferences to answer their own questions. A program that allows students to easily transition from middle school to high school is also very important in a well- developed science program. Programs in both the middle schools and high schools need to be aligned in such a way to ensure that students are well prepared when they leave one school and enter another. This will lead to a greater level of science achievement by Secondary Education students because they will not spend such a large period of time trying to “catch up” to the curriculum in High School. Overall, Science for Life published some very interesting opinions from Mr. Francis Elbere. His opinions were based on the many issues of teaching science in a Secondary Education environment and were knowledgeable and agreeable. Author: Umphrey, Jan
Title: Science for Life
Source: Princ Leadership 11 no8 Ap 2011 p. 21-3
ISSN: 2156-2113
Publisher: National Association of Secondary School Principals 1904 Association Drive, Reston, VA 22091-1537
EDC 430
October 11, 2011
Article Review
Science for Life
Science for Life is a journal that deals with Science in Secondary Education. The article is written in an interview style. Questions were asked by Principal Leadership and are answered by Francis Elbere. The questions that were asked pertain to issues within secondary education environment focusing in particular, on science. It was asked of Elbere to identify key components of an exceptional science program to which he replied: a qualified teacher, a well articulated science program that transitions middle school students into high school, and adequate instructional materials. The Principal leadership also asked Elbere to infer from recent NECAP test scores why some students were falling short. His reply to this was that most schools do not supply students with an adequate science background to transition them into high school science. This leaves them highly unprepared for the science testing that is conducted in the secondary level. Elbere also argues that many schools only provide science programs that were built around the models of their top performing students. This creates a disadvantage for other students who’s strengths may lie in more practical applications of science such as agricultural sciences or health sciences. By creating programs in such practical science courses, all students will obtain a fair opportunity to develop scientific thinking skills that are required for the NECAP science tests.
I strongly agree with much of Francis Elbere’s opinions on science education in secondary schools. By creating more science courses within secondary schools, you provide students with more options that they can choose from. These options will allow most students to take science courses that they want to take rather than courses that they are forced to take and otherwise, are uninterested in.
Elbere’s opinions about the key components of an exceptional science program closely align with my own opinions about what science programs should have. A highly qualified teacher is important to any subject area. A teacher must be able to answer students’ questions and have enough insight to know when to allow students to make inferences to answer their own questions. A program that allows students to easily transition from middle school to high school is also very important in a well- developed science program. Programs in both the middle schools and high schools need to be aligned in such a way to ensure that students are well prepared when they leave one school and enter another. This will lead to a greater level of science achievement by Secondary Education students because they will not spend such a large period of time trying to “catch up” to the curriculum in High School.
Overall, Science for Life published some very interesting opinions from Mr. Francis Elbere. His opinions were based on the many issues of teaching science in a Secondary Education environment and were knowledgeable and agreeable.
Author: Umphrey, Jan
Title: Science for Life
Source: Princ Leadership 11 no8 Ap 2011 p. 21-3
ISSN: 2156-2113
Publisher: National Association of Secondary School Principals
1904 Association Drive, Reston, VA 22091-1537